Title
A resolution accepting and endorsing the recommendations from the Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART) Citizen Advisory Committee for expenditures from the LART special fund for inclusion in the 2025 budget
Presenter:
Charae McDaniel, Chief Financial Officer
Sally Hybl, Chair, LART Citizens’ Advisory Committee
Body
Summary:
City Council’s Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART) Citizens’ Advisory Committee has reviewed and considered proposals from a variety of events and organizations for tourism-related projects to be funded from the City’s LART Special Revenue Fund. The Committee, with the support of the City Council liaisons to the LART Citizens’ Advisory Committee, recommends certain of those projects for inclusion in the 2025 budget.
Background:
The City imposes a Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax on the purchase of lodging, automobile rentals, and the rental of campground space within the City limits. The revenue derived from the LART tax may be expended for the purpose of tourism promotion in the City and the Pikes Peak Region. City Council has appointed a LART Citizens’ Advisory Committee, the purpose of which is to provide recommendations to City Council for such projects to include in the City's budget. The Committee has reviewed applications for LART funding from a variety of submissions, and its recommendations are included in the referenced Exhibit A.
The LART Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends that City Council approve the projects listed in Exhibit A and that they be forwarded to the Mayor to include in the 2025 budget.
Previous Council Action:
There have been no previous City Council actions relating to the LART Citizens’ Advisory Committee’s recommendations for the 2025 budget.
Financial Implications:
The total anticipated revenue from LART in 2025 is $10,500,000, and the estimated ending fund balance for 2024 is $187,000, which allows for $10,687,000 of total estimated funds available for appropriation in 2025. The LART Citizens’ Advisory Committee has recommended projects and expenditures for 2025 in the amount of $10,526,757 (Exhibit A). When bank/investment fees of $500 are included, the total expenditures are $10,527,257.
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
The LART Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends the inclusion of the projects listed Exhibit A. The list of recommended projects was presented to the City Council Budget Committee at the August 27, 2024 meeting.
Stakeholder Process:
The Committee received and evaluated applications for resolution events, and discussed award recommendations in detail, which resulted in the recommendations contained in Exhibit A. The LART Citizens Advisory Committee, in cooperation with City Council members and executive branch staff, will publicize the LART application process and conduct workshops for potential applicants in the community in the 1st quarter of 2025, based on financial considerations at that time.
Alternatives:
City Council could alter or decline to approve the list of recommended projects.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Move to approve the resolution accepting and endorsing the recommendations from the Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART) Citizen Advisory Committee, as provided in Exhibit A, for expenditures from the LART special fund in the 2025 budget
Summary of Ordinance Language
N/A